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MAF Blogger Danny
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Several news sources recently reported the canceling of an event – part of the Vets for Freedom “National Heroes Tour” that was planned for Tuesday, March 25th.

http://www.startribune.com/politics/local/16971116.html

The event was supposed to take place at Forest Lake High School where Pete Hegseth actually graduated from. After graduating from that Minnesota high school, Pete went on to Princeton University, graduated from there and then served his country honorably in the 101st Airborne Division, US Army. 

After fighting in Iraq and serving a tour in Guantanamo Bay, Pete returned to the US with a Bronze Star for his service and became Executive Director and founding member of Vets for Freedom, one of the premier pro-troop organization in the country.

The Vets for Freedom “Heroes Tour” -which is now underway- plans to visit 20 cities across the country and is currently going through Iowa. On Tuesday, almost halfway through the tour, the Heroes Tour was supposed to stop at Captain Hegseths’ old high school to talk with students about the honor and vital importance of military service to one’s country.

But now we see how Forest Lake treats it’s alumni, as the schools administration caved after receiving about a dozen or so concerned calls from area residents. There were naturally several anti-war groups planning to protest the visit but that should not be an excuse to silence any one group.

Here is an excerpt from this article about the incident

Steve Massey, the school principal, said the decision to cancel was prompted by concerns that the event was becoming political rather than educational and therefore was not suitable for a public school.

He said the school had received several phone calls from parents and others, some of whom indicated that they may stage a protest if the event took place.

“The event was structured to be an academic classroom discussion around military service. We thought we’d provide an opportunity for kids to learn about service in the context of our history classes,” Massey said. “As the day progressed, it became clear that this was becoming a political event ... which would be inappropriate in a public setting.

What I don’t get is that the Vets for Freedom delegation made it clear that they understood the fact that a school has to leave politics out of the classroom but that doesn’t mean that differing perspectives cannot be articulated.

These guys are all decorated heroes of the Iraq war, a war that is of enormous importance to America’s future whether you agree with it or not and this High School Principal and his staff have the nerve to say that their words and perspectives on the experience of military service is political and improper for a school?

The Berkeley City Council received 24,000 e-mails against the action they took against the US Marine Corps recruiters, and only 2,000 emails in support of their actions, yet they STILL refused to apologize.

The principal of this school received a dozen phone calls to voice concerns and he cancels the event? Bias.

Pete had this to say:

I think it’s extremely unfortunate that a school would bow to the political pressure of outside groups and not bring in a veterans organization,” Hegseth said. “Are we saying that patriotism and duty and honor have no place in our public schools?”

Yes, Pete, I think that’s what these boneheads think… and it’s just another slap in the face from a public institution –which should not be taking sides—against any group that represents patriotism, service to country, and honor.